Valve for internal-combustion engines and the like.



- x c. s. GOBY.

VALVE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES AND THE LIKE.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV- 8. m3.

1,234,458. Y Patented July 24, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

C.S.GOBY. VALVE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES AND THE LIKE.

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3 Z5 w m A W P WWA APPLICATION HLED NOV. 8, I913,

C. S. GOBY VALVE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8. 1913.

1,234,458. I Patented July 2.51917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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CLIFFORD S. GOBY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIQ,

' Application filed November 8, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLIFFORD S. G031, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of-Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain. new and useful Improvement in Valves for Internal-Combustion.Engines and the like, of which. the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in valves, especially rotary valves, and has particular utility in internal combustion engines, although not necessarily confined to that field of use.

Considering my invention more specifically, it relates chiefly to a novel form of valve packing, the principal object of the in- Vention being to provide a packing, the construction of which is such that the operation and functioning of the valve is unafliected by expansion or contraction due to changes in temperature, and which prevents leakage, both axially and circumferentially of the valve, and at the same time readily adapts and adjusts itself to the inner wall of the valve chamber as the va ve is rotated or opergted in said chamber.

The above and additional objects which will be brought out in the specification are accomplished by my invention which ay be here briefly summarized as consistm g in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein I have shown one embodiment of my invention applied to an internal combustion engine, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the upper part of the engine, the section being taken through the cylinders substantially along the line 11 of Fig. 3. Fig. .2 is a vertical sectional view taken at substantially right angles to the section of Fig. 1, this section being taken through the valve chambers substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 3,0ne of the valves being shown in elevation and the other being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view substantially along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detached view on an enlarged scale of one of the valves,-the valve being shown partly in side elevation and partly in section. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the expansion sleeve which surrounds the body of the valve. Fig. 6 15 a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24, 1191?.

Serial No. 799,949.

side View ofthe expansion sleeve shown in F g. 5, a portion being broken away; and Fig is a perspective view of one of the sector plates which are utilized on the valve in conjunction with the expansion sleeve.

Referring again to the drawings, wherein I have shown for convenience a twocylinder nglne, it will'be seen that the two cylinders 10 and 11 receive in the usual manner reciprocating pistons 12 adapted to be connected by connecting rods 13 to the cranks (not shown) one at the end of its upward stroke and the other piston being at the end of its downward stroke. 011 opposite sides of the cylinders and between the same and-extending into the rei ntrant angles formed at the junction of the cylinders are two valve cylinders 14 and 15, the former of which contains a rotary cylindrical inlet valve 16, and the latter of which bontains a rotary cylindrical exhaust valve 17. The two main cylinders 10 and 11 and the valve. cylinders 14 and 15 are in this instance cast en bloc, or in one integral part,

as shown in Fig. 3. This construction, in-

cluding the arrangement of exhaust and inlet valve chambcrs or cylinders, is animportaut factor in the attainment of compactness, which is one of the features of my engine.

It will be observed that both the main cylinders and the valve cylinders are inclosed within a water jacketing Wall 18, which substantially encompasses the valve cylinders and the upper portions of the main cylinders.

Before passing to the construction of the valves, it may be noted that the inlet valve cylinder 14 communicates with the two cylinders 10 and 11 through inlet ports 19 and 20, and that the exhaust valve cylinder 15 communicates with the cylinders 10 and 11 through exhaust ports 21 and 22. It will be observed that the center lines of the ports of of the pistons being here shown limits of piston movement. and, in consequence that the ports of each cylinder will be closed before the corresponding piston reaches the upper limit of its movement, and will not be uncovered until after a predetermined downward -movement of the piston. Preferably the piston will not uncover or begin to uncover the port until. it has traveled downwardly a linear distance equivalent to 20 degrees of movement. The

advantage of this arrangement is that the valve is protected from the heating action of the gases at the time of ignition, and wire drawing of the incoming gases during the suction stroke is minimized, as will be hereinafter explained.

The combustion space is formed by the upper part of the cylinder and by a sleeve 23 which is screwed onto the top of the cylinder, as shown in Fig. 1 and extends upwardly through the water jacket. In the upper end of the sleeve is screwed a spark lug 24:.

Each of the valves includes a cylindrical body 25, which may be a casting. This body is provided with an open upper end and somewhat near its lowerend with a curved partition 26 constituting a deflector for defleeting the gases either into the cylinder, as is the case with the inlet valve, or for deflecting the gases upwardly, as they pass from the cylinder, as is the case with the exhaust valve. Each valve is provided nearly midway between its ends and in the side wall thereof with a substantially rectangular.

- ort '27 )10 )erlv arran ed with reference toa P l l the deflector 2G.

Near the upper ends of the valve cylinders arc laterally extending inlet and outlet passageways 28. one of which communicates with an inlet manifold 29 and the other with'an exhaust manifold 30 which can be secured to suitably machined orfaced portions of the valve cylinders. In the extreme upper ends of the valve cylinders are end plugs 31 which are screwed into place.

Each of these closure plugsis provided with a curved section or portion 32 shaped to serve asa deflector and arranged opposite the laterally extending passageway 28, and one serving to deflect the incoming gases downward to the lower dellector26 in the valve, and the other serving to deflect laterally into the exhaust manifold the upcoming burnt gases. It will be seen therefore that the construction is such as to afford the least possible resistance to the passage of the gases between either manifold and a cylinder, whether the gases are passin into the cylinder or from the cylinder. It will be seen also that each valve has only one port, and that the passage of gases through the upper end of the valve, whether the gases are incoming or outgoing, is not obstruetedby a passageway which is alternately closing and opening. This arrangement has a very dis tinct advantage over constructions wherein the gases .pass through two ports in the valve, especially as the two-port construction increases wire drawing. and otlcrs more resistance to the passage of the gases.

' Although I have here shown the manifolds secured to the sides of the valve chambers. it might be desirable to arrange the manifolds directly over the valve chambers,

an inner cylir' -ical body 25. The body is surrounded by a cylindrical expansion sleeve 35, which is held between a flange or shoulder 36 at the lower end of the valve body, and a nut 3T which is screwed onto the threaded upper end of the valve body, as shown particularly in Fig. 4. This expansion sleeve, as will be observed particularly from Figs. 5 and 6, is split or divided at one p0int,the division in this case being made upon the longitudinal center line of the port-27. The ezi'pansion sleeve is pro- .vided at intervals with outstanding ribs 38 which extend longitudinally of the sleeve and terminate a short distance from each vend thereof. As will be observed later, the

purpose of these radial ribs is to minimize leakage eircumferentially of the valve. Be-v tween the ribs 38 are sectors or sector plates 39, which are held in position by split rings 4.0 which surround the end portions of the expansion sleeve and engage respectively the shoulder 36 and the nut 37, the said rings having undercut portions which overlap the ends of the sectors which are correspondingly beveled as shown most clearly in Fig. 4. These rings not only serve to hold in place the sectors, but perform the function of an ordinary piston ring, that is, to prevent leakage of gases endwisc of the valve. As shown in the drawings, the valve body, expansion sleeve, and one of the sectors have registering openings or ports forming the va ve port 27.

In practice the lower shoulder 36 and the upper nut 37 bear, it at all, very lightly on the cylindrical wall of the valve cylinder, even when the valve is subjected to the maximum heating action of the burnt or exhaust gases. However, the rings 40, sectors 39 and ribs 38 of the expansion sleeve bear substantially uniformly against the wall of the valve cylinder and admit of contraction and expansion without any sticking or undue loosening of the parts. The sectors are held snugly against the valve.chamber walls by the outward pressure exert ed by the expansion sleeve. and as they are not integrally unit-ed, they are free to conform to any minute irregularities of the valve chamber walls and thus l'orui virtually a gas tight joint between the valve and valve chamber. The expansion sleeves therefore serve a dual purpose, for they not only, with the assistthe deance of the sectors, prevent leakage, but with the cotiperation of the split rings serve to automatically compensate for changes due to expansion and contraction, thus making it impossible for the valve to stick.

The rings 40 are of sufficient width to prevent grooves being cut in the valve chamber walls, and the outward pressure exerted by the rings will be suflicient to check leaking endwise of the valve. It may be noted that while the sector plates fit fairly closely be tween the ribs, the fit will not be so tight as to prevent expansion of the sleeve due to rise in temperature. Preferably, outer edges or corners of the ribs are sharp, so as to prevent to the highest possibledegree leakage of gases circumferentially of the valve.

The valves are preferably lubricated by lubricant supplied through pipes, one of which is shown at 42 in Fig. 2. Each of these pipes will. be connected to the valve chamber at a point near the upper end of the valve, so that the lubricant may pass downwardly toward the lower end of the valve. In addition to the lubrication secured in this manner, the valve itself may be provided with a solid or semi-solid lubricating substance, such as graphite, and in this instance the sector plates are provided at intervals with openings 43, and the ribs 38 are provided with longitudinal slots 44,

both of which are preferably filled vwith graphite or equivalent lubricating substances. The expansion sleeve 35 and rings 40 of each valve may be prevented from.

turning relative to the valve body in any suitable manner, such as by pins 46 or equivalent means.

The valves are continuously rotated in opposite directions by vertical shafts or spindles 50, which are connected at their upper ends .to the lower ends of the valves and which extend downwardly through cylindrical sleeve-like extensions 51 of the valve cylinders. Each of these shafts is connected to the valve by a tongue and groove or dental clutch connection consisting simply of a cross rib or projection 52 on the upper face of a disk or flange-like enlargement 53 at the upper end of the shaft, and rectangular notches forined in the lower edge portion of the valve, and engaged by said cross rib. The valve is prevented from moving endwise upwardly or away from the driving shaft by the lower end of the closure plug 31 in the upper end of the valve cylinder. The construction is such that the upper end of the valve normally just clears the lower end of the closure plug 31, but nevertheless a. very slight endv'ise movement of the valve or expansion in the endwise direction may take place. Each of the shafts is-rotated at half crank shaft speed by driving mecha nism, includinga worm 55 on the lower end of the shaft and worm wheel 55 engaging the From the above, it will be apparent that since the valves are not secured solidly to the driving spindles, they are free, to be withdrawn from the valve chambers should removal of the same be desired. Furthermore, by reason of this construction, none of the stresses due to driving by the gears are transmitted to the valve so as to distort the latter. Thus it will be seen that the-valve with its packing members in reality floats in the valve chamber, and is free to adjust itself to the valve chamber and to compensate for changes due to variations in temperature as before stated.

Although the timingof the valves may be adjusted to suit requirements, in Fig. 3 the inlet valve 16, which as shown is rotated in the clockwise. direction, is about to open the inlet port leading to the cylinder 10, whose piston is about to start its downward suction stroke, and the exhaust valve which is rotated in a counter clockwise direction, as the same is viewed in Fig. 3, has just closed the exhaust port of cylinder 10, and has partially opened the exhaust port of the cylinder 11, whose piston is about to start on its upward exhaust stroke. The inlet port 19 of cylinder 10 remains covered or closed by the piston at the time of ignition, and while the piston is traveling downward through substantially twenty degrees of movement. Due to the fact that the port is sealedby the piston when ignition takes place, the valve is protected from the full force of the explosion or ignition, and its resulting pressure. While the piston is traveling downward to this extent, the inlet valve 16 is, of course, given a ten degree movement, thus partially opening or uncovering the port. In consequence, the inlet port is opened or uncovered by the simultaneous movement of both the piston and the valve, and as the piston is moving rapidly at the instant that it begins to uncover the port and as the valve had, prior to that time, partially opened or uncovered the port, it will be seen that the effect of this action is to produce a very rapid port opening, and wire drawing and resistance to movement of the incoming gas is minimized.

Furthermore, the passage of gases to and through the valve is free and practically unobstructed by reason of the fact that the gases pass from the manifold into the valve chamber and are deflected downward by the upper curved deflector 32 and pass freely into th= open end of the cylindrical valve, and are thence deflected laterally by the lower deflector in the valve toward the now open po'rt. The same is trueof .the exhaust valve, but the exhaust gases pass outwardly from the cylinder even. more freely and with less resistance than the Incoming fresh gas, for the reason that the exhaust port is nearly half open or uncovered at the time the piston begins its upward exhaust stroke,

as will be seen by the position of the port 27 v working strokes of the piston in cylinder 11,

and at the beginning of the exhaust stroke of the piston in this cylinder the port 27 of exhaust valve 17 will have partly opened the exhaust port 21 of cylinder 10, whereupon the exhaust will take place in the cylinder, and after the exhaust stroke, both valves will then again be in the positions shown in Fig. 3.

\Vhile I have shown only one valve con struction in the drawings, it will be understood that I do not wish to be confined to the exact details or arrangements shown, but aim in my claims to cover all modificat ons which do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope of my invention. more, while I have shown and detail one arrangement of the valves with respect tothe cylinders, I wish it to be understood that Iam not to be confined to the particular arrangement shown, as the valve may be otherwise arranged.

Having described my invention, claim is:

1. A valve comprising an annular body,

what I an expansible sleeve surrounding the body and extending substantially the length thereof,'both the body and sleeve having registering port openings and split spring rings at the ends of the sleeve.

2. A valve comprising an annular valve body having a split spring sleeve, provided with external ribs for circumferentially of the valve.

A rotary valve comprising an annular valve body, annular devices surrounding the body for preventing leakage circumferentially and axially, one of said devices having a port opening and also circumferentially spaced leakage preventing portions.

4.1K valve comprising an annular body having means for 'n'cventing leakage both axially and circumfemntially of the valve.

said means comprising an expansible ell-eve surrounding the body and provided with external ribs and expansiblc rings at the ends of the sleeve.

5. In a valve an annular expansible mem- Furtherdescribed in preventing leakage 7 ber provided with external ribs for preventing leakage circumferentially of the valve, and means filling the spaces between the ribs.

6. A valveromprising an annular body, an expansible sleeve surroumling the body and provided with external ribs extending lengthwiseof the sleeve, and sectors between the ribs.

T. A. valve comprising a valve body, an annular member surrounding the valve body and provided with'external longitudinal ribs, sectors separate from said member between the ribs, and a ring surrounding said member and engaging the sectors.

8. In a valve an expansible member provided with external longitudinally extending ribs, sectors between the ribs, and ex pansible rings at the ends of the member and engaging the sectors.

9. In combination in an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, an annular valve chamber, a rotary valve in the chamber, said valve being provided with anexpansible sleeve having external longitudinally extending ribs, sectors between the ribs, and expansible rings surrounding the sleeve and engaging the sectors, said valve having a port in its side wall.

10. A valve comprising an annular body, an expansible member surrounding the body, said expansible member having means for preventing leakage circumferentially of the valve.

11. A valve comprising an annular body, expansible means surrounding the body, and

having on the exterior thereof a plurality of longitudinally extending edges;

12. A. valve comprising an annular body, an expansible member surrounding said body, said member having i'neans for preventing leakage circumferentially of the valve. and means for preventing leakage longitudinally of the valve. 13. A valve comprising an annular body, an expansible sleeve surrounding said body and having means forming longitudinally extending edges for preventing leakage circumferentially of'the valve, and means comprising a plurality of split spring rings for preventing leakage longitiulinally of the valve.

'14. A valve'comprising a valve body, expansible means surrounding the valve body and provided with a port opening and with eireumierentially spaced edges extending longitlulinally and axially spaced edges extending circumferenlially of the valve.

15. A valve comprising a valve body, annular expansible means surroumli valve body and provided at inlerva s with means for preventing or checking leakage eireunli'ereulially of the valve.

US. A valve comprising a valve body with a packing including a plurality of sectors or segments surrounding the valve body, and annular expansible means for pressing the sectors or segments outwardly.

17. A valve comprising a valve body and a packing comprising independent sectors or segments surrounding the valve body, an-

nular expansible means for pressing the same outwardly, and annular retaining means for said sectors or segments.

18. A valve comprising a valve body and a packing comprising a plurality of independent sectors or segments surrounding the valve body, and means comprising an annular split member between the body and said sectors or segments and adapted to press the 15 latter yieldin gl y against the Wall of the chamber containing the valve.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CLIFFORD s. GOBY.

Witnesses L. I. PORTER, A. F. KwIs. 

